Monday, January 21, 2013

Who Is Your Disease?

During my darker days in the fall of 2012, I created a character to describe the disease that took control of my body.

The more I thought, about it the more real it became. It was an parasitic alien force that shared my mind and body, and wanted to be the only one in control. The creature had a name, Mordred.

I image Mordred looks like an Easter Island Totem. You know, big head and long face, topped with a large stone hat. Mordred moved by wobbling, rolling his big ungainly head, left and right, gaining just a few inches with each twist.

It was Mordred who wanted me to take a nap in the afternoon. And Mordred, who whispered “Give up. Don’t try anything new. Stop now before you fail miserably.”

Please , Dear Reader, before you conclude that I’m going completely off my dot, I assure you that I am speaking just of a mental device. Mordred represents the extra layer of nuisance and discontent that I must carry around and deal with. At the core of my being, I am the same healthy person that existed before my P.D. diagnosis.

Now that I have personified Parkinson’s disease, I can have a conversation with it. And my message to Mordred? “Screw off. I know who you are, and I will not listen to your negative messages. “

About Me

In November 2008, Michael Spokane was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the age of 52. In November 2010, he began writing about his experience with the disease in an effort to help himself and others.
Michael is interested in receiving and responding to your comments and feedback. Please feel free to join in.
Michael lives in Southeastern Pennsylvania with his wife. He has two grown children. He had a career in general contracting and finish carpentry and specialized in historic restoration.